Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch – 2017-18 | Fight For Iowa | Hawk Talk Monthly — February 2018
MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Iowa’s 400-medley relay highlighted day two of the Big Ten Championships at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.
Junior Kenneth Mende got the Hawkeyes off to a stellar start in the relay, swimming a career-best time of 46.79 seconds. The time, which is third-fastest in school history, was the second-fastest lead leg in the event.
Freshman Daniel Swanepoel, senior Jerzy Twarowski, and junior Jack Smith closed out the race with a time of 3:08.24 to place fifth overall and give the Hawkeyes 50 team points. The time is second-best in school history.
Iowa also had a stellar showing in the 50-yard freestyle, qualifying five student-athletes for the finals. Smith earned 16 team points with his 11th place finish, touching in a career-best 19.63 seconds — the second-best time in school history.
Sophomore Will Scott placed 14th in 19.94 seconds after swimming a career-best 19.77 in the prelims. Junior Michal Brzus finished 20th in 19.91 seconds (he swam 19.89 in prelims), and junior Matt Kamin was 21st in 19.92 seconds after swimming a 19.84 in prelims.
The Hawkeyes also had a pair earn second swims in the 500 free. Senior Chris Dawson won the “B” final, finishing in a career-best 4:20.42 to earn 20 team points. It is the second-best time in program history, trailing only Olympian Artur Wojdat.
Senior Thomas Rathbun finished 24th overall in 4:24.99. He swam a career-best 4:22.38 in the prelims — the ninth-best time all-time.
Iowa is seventh in the team standings heading into Friday’s action with 214 points. Michigan narrowly leads Indiana for the team lead (538.5 to 529.5).
Action resumes at 11 a.m. (CT) Friday with the prelims 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, and 3-meter springboard. The same events will be swam during the night finals along with the 200-free relay.
